Egypt says Ramses II temple unearthed southwest of Cairo

CAIRO (AP) — Egypt’s antiquities agency says archaeologists have unearthed remains of a temple belonging to King Ramses II southwest of Cairo, which may shed light on the life of the 19th Dynasty pharaoh, over 3,200 years ago.

This undated photo released by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities shows an ancient gymnasium dating back about 2,300 years, from the Hellenistic period, a discovery made by a German-Egyptian mission, at the site of Watfa in Fayoum province, about 80 kilometers, or 50 miles, southwest of the capital, Cairo, Egypt. Ayman Ashmawi of the ministry says the gymnasium consists of a large meeting hall, once adorned with statues, a dining hall, a courtyard and a nearly 200-meter-long racetrack. (Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities via AP)

Mustafa Waziri, the head of agency, told The Associated Press on Monday that the discovery was made by an Egyptian-Czech mission in the village of Abusir near the step pyramid of Saqqara.

In a statement on Sunday, Miroslav Barta, the head of the Czech team, said the temple is the only evidence of the presence of Ramses II in the Badrashin area in Giza, part of Greater Cairo.

He said the discovery confirms the continued worship of the sun god “Ra” in Abusir, which started in the 5th Dynasty, over 4,500 years ago.